Related Links

LA JOLLA, Calif. - UC San Diego produced a five-run second inning and benefitted from four Toro errors in posting a second successive shutout victory against Cal State Dominguez Hills, 7-0, at Triton Ballpark on Friday night.

The Tritons have produced back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1995, having blanked the Toros in the opener of their four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series on Thursday night in La Jolla, 1-0.

UCSD has moved its record to 9-6 overall and 6-4 in the CCAA. Cal State Dominguez Hills, a loser of four straight, is 9-7 overall and 4-5 in league play.

Triton junior left-hander Trevor Scott (1-1) scattered four hits, all singles, over six complete innings, walking two and striking out six. The end result marked his first winning decision in over a full calendar year, since his first of six starts in 2013 at home on the opening weekend of the season, Feb. 3 against Colorado Mesa.

UCSD struck for five runs on just three hits and four walks in the big second, and that was all that Scott and two relievers would need. Junior right-handers Dan Kolodin (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Javier Carrillo, Jr. (1.0 IP), took care of the rest, the latter making his Triton debut after transferring from Skyline College.

Junior Brett Levy got the Tritons on the board with a two-run single and caught his second straight shutout. His key single in the second slid straight up the middle on a 1-2 pitch by CSUDH starter Tyler Mark (0-2) following a leadoff single by Michael Mann, walk to Justin Rahn and successful sacrifice by Garrett Tuck.

Mark proceeded to issue three bases on balls around a strikeout, the third one to Nick La Face forcing in Levy for a 3-0 lead. Sophomore third baseman Troy Cruz (Chula Vista/Bonita Vista HS) then came through with a first-pitch, two-run single through the left side to chase Mark. Ten Tritons batted in the frame.

Despite coming back out for the third and getting into some trouble through a one-out hit-by-pitch and two-out single, Scott got his shutdown inning by striking out Peter Ives. Scott, who had allowed five runs in the first innings of his first two starts of 2014, had earlier wriggled out of that first frame unscathed after David Steininger’s single to open the contest, with a groundout, strikeout and popout.

The visitors began the fourth with back-to-back singles and loaded the bases with one gone, but Scott induced the first of two 6-4-3 double plays turned by UCSD. The other came in the seventh after Kolodin walked the first batter he faced.

In the top of the fifth, Steininger walked with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a flyout to right, only to get stranded there as Scott again had Ives waving at strike three on the outside. Ives fanned three times on the night.

UCSD added single runs to its cushion in the sixth on a wild pitch and the eighth on an RBI groundout by Cruz, who finished 1-for-4 with a walk and three RBI. Levy was 1-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch, walk, two runs scored and two RBI. Rahn went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run. Erik Lewis scored twice.

Scott retired the Toros in order in the second and sixth through three popouts and three strikeouts. Cal State Dominguez Hills used four arms.

The series now shifts to Toro Field in Carson for its conclusion on Saturday, March 8, with a doubleheader set for an 11 a.m. start.

Triton Notes:Troy Cruz is the only Triton to have started all 15 games, with two of those starts coming on the mound ... Justin Rahn is the only Triton to have reached base in all 15 games so far in 2014 ... Gradeigh Sanchez earned his second straight start in left field ... Brandon Shirley’s eighth-inning infield single extended his team-best hit streak to eight games ... Friday’s result marked UCSD’s third shutout of 2014 after the 9-0 home win vs. Holy Names on Opening Day (Feb. 2) and Thursday’s 1-0 decision ... In 1995, UCSD posted shutout victories on the road at Concordia, 5-0, on April 3, and Southern California College (now Vanguard), 6-0, on April 5.